Saudi Arabia arrests Sunni cleric on religious charges

Saudi Arabia has arrested a Sunni cleric for his support for proximity among Islamic sects.

Saudi security forces on Friday detained Hassan Farhan al-Maliki, who follows up a stance on religious issues in contradiction to Wahabbis.

Saudi and Salafi extremists have always criticized the Sunni cleric’s religious ideas and repeatedly brought different charges against him. They have also emphasized that Saudi security forces must detain Maliki.

In televised interviews, debates and messages in social networks, Maliki has repeatedly said that Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement, is the hero of the Arab world.

He also called for putting an end to what he describes as discrimination against Shia Muslims in Saudi Arabia.

Maliki’s detention came after a court in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday upheld a death sentence given to prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

The prominent Shia cleric was attacked and detained in the Saudi city of Qatif in July 2012. His arrest sparked widespread protests in the kingdom, claiming the lives of several anti-government demonstrators.

Sheikh Nimr is accused of disturbing the country’s security, giving anti-regime speeches, and defending political prisoners.